Prospect Research and Portfolio Specialist

Pomona College is a prestigious liberal arts college located near Los Angeles, California. The Prospect Research & Portfolio Specialist will support fundraising efforts by conducting prospect research, maintaining data integrity, and collaborating with Advancement staff to enhance donor engagement.ResponsibilitiesConducts proactive and ad hoc prospect research on constituents, donors, and prospects. Synthesizes internal and external data into accurate, well-documented profiles and briefings that supports fundraising planning and strategic discussionsUtilizes a combination of research resources, analytics tools, and CRM data to conduct proactive prospect discovery and qualification. Assists in identifying potential major gift prospects by reviewing wealth indicators, engagement history, philanthropic activity, and affinity markers under established prospect development guidelinesServes as research liaison and support partner for assigned development officers. Processes proposals, contact reports, and related updates and strategies with strong attention to completeness, detail and data accuracySupports relationship‑management workflows by assisting with prospect assignments, proposal tracking, and status updates in the CRMAssists with preparation for portfolio review meetings by analyzing prospect data, tracking proposal activity, and identifying trends in engagement and solicitation readiness for discussion with Prospect Development leadership and frontline gift officersMaintains prospect research data and supports data integrity efforts, including quality assurance review of prospect, portfolio, and proposal information to ensure alignment with Advancement policies and reporting standardsProcesses daily data updates (“Dailies”) with attention to detail, supporting accurate relationship histories, assignments, and proposal recordsAssists in maintaining prospect data quality and integrity by identifying discrepancies, outdated information, or missing documentation and escalating as appropriateEnters and updates prospect research and relationship‑management data in accordance with established Advancement policies and proceduresCollaborates with Advancement staff, including but not limited to research, technology, and development teams to strategically identify, research, and recommend prospectsContributes to and documents the enhancements of policies and proceduresCoordinates special projects/tasks and provides guidance and/or assistance as assignedWill have to work evening and weekend hours as required on occasionSkillsBachelor's degree in communications, marketing, journalism, business administration, a liberal arts field, or equivalent combination of education and experience is requiredExceptional interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills that are adaptive based on a wide variety of audiences and levelsAbility to independently conduct prospect research using a variety of online resourcesAdept at using basic office software such as Word and PowerPoint, with an emphasis on ExcelExperience with CRM systems such as Salesforce or Ellucian preferredFamiliarity with prospect research tools such as iWave, AlumniFinder or Lexis Nexis, Foundation Directory Online, QuantiFind, news platforms or similar resourcesFamiliarity with reporting tools such as Tableau, and CognosA commitment to uphold APRA's (organization for prospect research professionals) mission, vision and ethics and standardsAbility to prioritize, effectively respond to multiple requests in a timely mannerAbility to deliver accurate information, with care and pride for attention to detail for all work productsExcellent project management and organizational skills, working both independently and collaboratively as a member of AdvancementKnowledge of Pomona College's mission and environmentStrong sense of intellectual curiosity with a willingness to learn and try new skills, adapt to change, receive input from colleagues and accept supervisory direction and feedbackMasters Degree in Library and Information Science or Information Sciences is highly desiredA minimum of 1 year of prospect research and database use experience at a higher-education academic institution is preferredBenefitsCompetitive benefits packageCompany OverviewPomona College offers students the experience of a liberal arts college and the breadth of resources associated with major universities. It was founded in 1887, and is headquartered in Claremont, California, USA, with a workforce of 201-500 employees. Its website is http://www.pomona.edu.



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